Thursday, November 10, 2011

(NORTH) AMERICAN CHRISTMAS

As the holidays approach, the giant foreign factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods - merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

I believe that this year should be different. North Americans should give the gift of concern for their fellow countrymen by purchasing Homeland-made products.There is no longer the excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is made and produced by American hands.

It's time to think outside the "gift" box, everyone!

Who says a gift needs to fit inside a shirt box wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone gets their hair cut, right? Give gift certificates to your local barber shop or hair salon. And, while on that subject, there are manicures, gym memberships, eyeglass frames. Know someone with a back problem? Give them the gift of a chiropractor visit - bliss!

Use your imagination - we all know that gift cards are available for "everything" - restaurants, movie theatres, and car wash/detailing owned and operated by your local American working guy. You can even make your own gift certificates for things like lawn mowing/raking, driveway plowing or sealing, golf lessons, cleaning lady for a day, or even a tune-up by a local computer technician.

Think you can't find anything Made In America anymore? You're on the internet right now, correct? Just type into your search engine "items made in the U.S." or "items made in Canada", and you'll have no problem! I know there's a store in New York called Made In America Store. You can visit it, or shop at their online store. And, of course, don't forget your favorite ETSY shoppes!

And, what about your holiday decorations? Do you really need to buy more boxes of light strings and baubles marked Made in China? Home-made and bought, baby!

You see, Christmas shopping should no longer be about draining American pockets to fill foreign ones. Christmas buying should now include caring about your fellow countrymen, and encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. When we care about other Americans, we care about our communities and the benefits that come back to us in ways we can't imagine.

(P.S. - I got this idea from an email I received this week - not my originality!)

It's really something to think about. It's hard to change overnight, but the way to change the country is to first change yourself, then your family, then your community. I know I tend to get carried away...and it's getting so that even local craft shows are just things they ordered from China. I love to make gifts, but I'm still guilty of buying a lot of things that aren't made in the US. I will be thinking more about this.

I got this email also and it really got me thinking! I do a lot of 'vintage' gifts but I will also make sure I buy American Made this year. Another great source is Etsy shops for handmade items, crafts, decorations and of course vintage! hugs, Linda